Reading to dogs pays off

Library likes results of first-time program; so do kids.

Library likes results of first-time program; so do kids.

August 18, 2006|JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer

Clare Costello gently caressed the floppy ear of Paris, a large black poodle, while the dog's head rested on her lap. It could have been a scene from many a family room. But there were a few key differences. Clare was reading to the dog, and it was not her own, nor in her home. The location was a reading room on the third floor of the St. Joseph County Public Library. "It helps if you read to more than just people," Clare, a fifth-grader at Holy Family School, said. "It's fun and it helps you with our reading confidence." Clare was one of many students taking advantage Saturday of the first-time program ---- "Reading to a Canine Friend." The program was the brainchild of Paris' owner, Kathi Piekarski, who sat alongside her dog during the six 20-minute sessions. Across the room, Clare's little sister Mary, a second- grader, was a bit shy, as the black Labrador retriever named Zuni reminded her of the dog her family used to have. For that reason, she could not bring herself to pet it despite several gentle invitations from the dog's owner, Rita Gustafson of Buchanan. But that didn't keep Zuni from comfortably paying attention, and appearing to be interested in the reading. In some ways, that was the whole point of the program which will be repeated Sept. 16 and Oct. 14. Dogs are nonjudgmental, Piekarski said, and they enjoy the attention. "I was thinking of ways to promote reading among kids who can't read well or are afraid to, and also for children who might be apprehensive or afraid of dogs," Piekarski said. "They could come and spend some quality time with a dog." Both Zuni and Paris are certified pet therapy dogs that have appeared at hospitals and assisted living facilities, among other places. Both have completed the 11-part Therapy Dogs International test, also known as the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test. "They have to have a great disposition," Piekarski said. Piekarski said she heard of children reading to dogs in other parts of the country. "I thought why can't we do this here," she said. Chris Springer, manager of children's services at the library, took Piekarski up on the idea. Judging by the first program's results, Springer is glad she did. "I think it is going really well," she said. "The dogs are so well behaved." The children could bring their own book or choose one from the table, most dealing with dogs. But while the dogs sat quietly, occasionally shutting an eye, Springer liked what it potentially did for the children, all of whom were taking the opportunity seriously. "I hope they will be confident about reading," she said. "That they feel soothed by the dog's presence. It always helps to have someone who is nonjudgmental there even if it is a different species." Zuni's owner enjoyed the two-hour program that provided each child about 20 minutes with the dog. "We were very pleased with how it turned out," Gustafson said. "It was the first time for this particular program ... so it took us a while to get a handle on what we were doing, not knowing how the kids would respond. "But we had excellent feedback from both the kids and parents. People signed up for the next month."